George Observatory

Tucked inside Brazos Bend State Park about an hour south of Houston, Texas, George Observatory gives the public a rare chance to look through one of the largest public telescopes in the United States.

About George Observatory

The observatory is a satellite facility of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It houses three domed telescopes, the centrepiece being the 36-inch Gueymard Research Telescope, one of the largest telescopes in the country regularly open to public viewing. A meteorite exhibit rounds out the visitor experience.

Telescopes & research

George Observatory's three domes give visitors access to a range of instruments, but its standout is the 36-inch Gueymard Research Telescope, large enough to reveal fine detail in planets, star clusters and galaxies that smaller amateur telescopes cannot capture.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits at an elevation of 17 metres inside Brazos Bend State Park in Texas, United States, roughly an hour's drive south of Houston, a dark-sky setting that makes the park a popular spot for stargazing.

Visiting George Observatory

George Observatory is open to the public on Saturday nights from 9pm to 11pm, weather permitting. Admission is $13 for adults and children, and visitors also need a separate day pass for Brazos Bend State Park. The site offers astronomy classes alongside its public viewing nights.

See your named star from here

On a clear Saturday night at George Observatory, staff can point the 36-inch Gueymard telescope toward the coordinates of a named star, turning a certificate into a real view through the eyepiece. Name a star, or browse the star catalogue to see stars already registered.